True Love

1.26.2012

Many people have been concerned with mine and Colton's intentions with our decision to get married... Colton's father told him it was a mistake, and people have told me I am crazy to think we'd make it.

The honest truth, I know.
If you told me 5 months ago I'd be married by March, much less having a baby by June.. I'd basically laugh in your face. I was enjoying the singles life, hanging out with different guys and having a crazy amount of girls nights. Life was good. Colton lived 800 miles away, I hadn't seen him in YEARS and he had a girl.

But for all you people out there who believe in a God (as do I) he had a plan in mind for Colton and I...
When we found out we were going to be parents the obvious conversation of marriage arose. But NEITHER of us wanted to do it solely for that little boy... we didn't want to make our self unhappy down the road and drag a child through a divorce. For obvious reasons.

Much to my surprise, I fell in love with that boy. The way he treats me, the way he talks to me, the respect he has for my family and his drive to never give up. I will stand by that to anyone who tries to belittle what we have. Our circumstances may not have been traditional, but who's situation ever is?!

37 days until the big day!! <3

A not so happy birthday surprise..

1.25.2012

So last week was my 20th birthday, YAY ME! Not so much.

That Monday, I had my regularly scheduled check up. At this time I would  have been barely 18 weeks pregnant. I elected to perform a screening to check my risks for down syndrome (even though with my age and health history, the risks would typically be VERY low or 1 in 1400).

They do this test by drawing blood and checking the levels of four proteins your body makes during pregnancy which include  alpha fetoprotein, estriol, HCG and inhibin A.. Abnormal levels of this in the mothers blood (above or below 1%) can indicate a problem with the baby.

The most common pattern for a baby with down syndrome is a raised level of the 1st and 3rd proteins and a low level of the 2nd and 4th. 


Well... my blood test SUCKED. Two days after they performed the test, my doctors office called me THREE times. When they finally get ahold of me they informed me by test results were concerning and they would be referring me to a genetic specialist.

The next day, the specialist called me to make an appointment that day, and I went in. The specialist explained to me that the pattern and prevalence of the protein in my blood meant my baby could be in danger. My odds of having a baby with downs syndrome were 1 in 31 AND chances were, even if the baby didn't have downs syndrome.. there could be serious complications with my placenta because the levels of the 1st and 3rd proteins were so high in my blood. This likely means the placenta isn't working properly and the nutrients made for the baby are not getting to it and instead being pumped into my blood stream. This puts me at risk for pre eclampsia, which can cause liver failure and even stroke. Not to mention the baby is not receiving the nutrients it needs and will not be able to grow properly.

Imagine how much I am freaking out at this point. They tell me they will check for physical markers and clues to the babies health in a high-def ultra sound.. from that point the only definitive way of knowing if the condition of the baby was through an amniocentesis, which has a risk miscarriage.




 This is my baby at 18 weeks! Beautiful isn't he? (obviously in these images we could tell he was a boy!)

In these images, they checked for EVERYTHING. All the chambers of the heart working properly, measurements of the brain and all  the bones. They checked for common markers of downs syndrome (which include a thick piece of skin in the back of the neck, short fingers, and a flatter face)

Luckily the only thing that caused for further concern was the length of the babies femur bone.

I am still considered a "High-risk pregnancy" and they will be watching me very closely for other markers of downs syndrome and pre eclampsia. But for now I have a healthy baby boy!

The Engagement photos

1.07.2012





My very talented brother took these for us as a gift (: (as you can imagine, we are on a budget)
You get check out his blog with all of his other AMAZING photoshoots at
tysonfrenchphotography.blogspot.com